• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2002

An International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) program based at the University of Illinois at Chicago initiated its activities in 1998, with the following specific objectives: (a) inventory and conservation of of plants of Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam and of medicinal plants of Laos; (b) drug discovery (and development) based on plants of Vietnam and Laos; and (c) economic development of communities participating in the ICBG project both in Vietnam and Laos. Member-institutions and an industrial partner of this ICBG are bound by a Memorandum of Agreement that recognizes property and intellectual property rights, prior informed consent for access to genetic resources and to indigenous knowledge, the sharing of benefits that may arise from the drug discovery effort, and the provision of short-term and long-term benefits to host country institutions and communities. The drug discovery effort is targeted to the search for agents for therapies against malaria (antimalarial assay of plant extracts, using Plasmodium falciparum clones), AIDS (anti-HIV-l activity using HOG.R5 reporter cell line (through transactivation of the green fluorescent protein/GFP gene), cancer (screening of plant extracts in 6 human tumor cell lines - KB, Col-2, LU-l, LNCaP, HUVEC, hTert-RPEl), tuberculosis (screening of extracts in the microplate Alamar Blue assay against Mycobacterium tuberculosis $H_{37}Ra\;and\;H_{37}Rv),$ all performed at UIC, and CNS-related diseases (with special focus on Alzheimer's disease, pain and rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma), peformed at Glaxo Smith Kline (UK). Source plants were selected based on two approaches: biodiversity-based (plants of Cuc Phuong National Park) and ethnobotany-based (medicinal plants of Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam and medicinal plants of Laos). At mc, as of July, 2001, active leads had been identified in the anti-HIV, anticancer, antimalarial, and anti- TB assay, after the screening of more than 800 extracts. At least 25 biologically active compounds have been isolated, 13 of which are new with anti-HIV activity, and 3 also new with antimalarial activity. At GSK of 21 plant samples with a history of use to treat CNS-related diseases tested to date, a number showed activity against one or more of the CNS assay targets used, but no new compounds have been isolated. The results of the drug discovery effort to date indicate that tropical plant diversity of Vietnam and Laos unquestionably harbors biologically active chemical entities, which, through further research, may eventually yield candidates for drug development. Although the substantial monetary benefit of the drug discovery process (royalties) is a long way off, the UIC ICBG program provides direct and real-term benefits to host country institutions and communities.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2011.05a
• /
• pp.46-46
• /
• 2011

Severe sediment erosion during floods occur disaster and economic losses, but general sediment erosion is basic mechanism to move sediment from upstream to downstream river. In addition, it is important process to change river form. Check dam, which is constructed in mountain stream, play a vital role such as control of sudden debris flow, but it has negative aspects to river ecosystem. Now a day, check dam of open type is an alternative plan to recover river biological diversity and ecosystem through sediment transport while maintaining the function of disaster control. The purpose of this paper is to verify sediment erosion progress of river bottom and bank as first step for river restoration after dam slit by cross-sectional shear stress and critical shear stress. Study area is upstream reach of slit check dam in mountain stream, named Wasada, in Japan. The check dam was slit with two passages in August, 2010. The transects were surveyed for four upstream cross-sections, 7.4 m, 34 m, 86 m, and 150 m distance from dam in October 2010. Sediment size was surveyed at river bottom and bank. Sediment of cobble size was found at the wetted bottom, and small size particles of sand to medium gravel composed river bank. Discharge was $2.5\;m^3/s$ and bottom slope was 0.027 m/m. Excess shear stress (${\tau}_{ex}$) was calculated for hydraulic erosion by subtracting the values of critical shear stress (${\tau}_{c}$) from the value of shear stress (${\tau}$) at river bottom and bank (${\tau}_{ex}=\tau-{\tau}_c$). Shear stress of river bottom (${\tau}_{bottom}$) was calculated using the cross-sectional shear stress, and bank shear stress (${\tau}_{bank}$) was calculated from the method of Flintham and Carling (1988). $${\tau}_{bank}={\tau}^*SF_{bank}((B+P_{bed})/(2^*P_{bank}))$$ where $SF_{bank}=1.77(P_{bed}/p_{bank}+1.5)^{-1.4}$, B is the water surface width, $P_{bed}$ and $P_{bank}$ are wetted parameter of the bed and bank. Estimated values for ${\tau}_{bottom}$ for a flow of $2.5\;m^3/s$ were lower as 25.0 (7.5 m cross-section), 25.7 (34 m), 21.3 (86 m) and 19.8 (150 m), in N/$m^2$, than critical shear stress (${\tau}_c=62.1\;N/m^2$) with cobble of 64 mm. The values were insufficient to erode cobble sediment. In contrast, even if the values of ${\tau}_{bank}$ were lower than the values for ${\tau}_{bottom}$ as 18.7 (7.5 m), 19.3 (34 m), 16.1 (86 m) and 14.7 (150 m), in N/$m^2$, excess shear stresses were calculated at the three cross-sections of 7.5 m, 34 m, and 86 m distances compare with ${\tau}_c$ is 15.5 N/$m^2$ of 16mm gravel. Bank shear stresses were sufficient for erosion of the medium gravel to sand. Therefore there is potential to erode lateral bank than downward erosion in a flow of $2.5\;m^3/s$. Undercutting of the wetted bank can causes bank scour or collapse, therefore this channel has potential to become wider at the same time. This research is about a potential of sediment erosion, and the result could not verify with real data. Therefore it need next step for verification. In addition an erosion mechanism for river restoration is not simple because discharge distribution is variable by snow-melting or rainy season, and a function for disaster control will recover by big precipitation event. Therefore it needs to consider the relationship between continuous discharge change and sediment erosion.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.203-216
• /
• 2016

Probiotic microorganisms are thought to provide health benefits when consumed. In 2001, the World Health Organization defined probiotics as "live microorganisms which confer a health benefit on the host, when administered in adequate amounts." Three methods for screening potential probiotics have currently widely available. (1) In vitro assays of potential probiotics are preferred because of their simplicity and low cost. (2) The use of in vivo approaches for exploring various potential probiotics reflects the enormous diversity in biological models with various complex mechanisms. (3) Potential probiotics have been analyzed using several genetic and omics technologies to identify gene expression or protein production patterns under various conditions. However, there is no ideal procedure for selecting potential probiotics than testing cadidate strains on the target population. Hence, in this review, we provide an overview of the different methodologies used to identify new probiotic strains. Furthermore, we describe futre perspectives for the use of in vitro, in vivo and omics in probiotic research.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.15-32
• /
• 2003

The ecological study on seven wetlands of Haman area in Kyungsangnamdo, Korea, was carried out. In especial, the biological data of the sites were unknown. In this study, water quality including water temperature, pH, DO, COD, T-N, T-P, SS were tested. On the survey of plants and animals, vegetation and flora were investigated and the fauna of insects, fish, and amphibians were studied on each wetland. Water of wetland Oksu was heavily polluted and wetlands Pyungy and Dodulyangy were relatively clean. The water pollution was most severe in winter at all of the wetlands. Plant communities were classified into 9 natural communities and 1 artificial community. On the vegetation, wetland Sugok showed the highest plant taxa, and 41 families, 78 species and 16 varieties were classified. There was remarkable difference in number of plant taxa. The difference may be caused by the variances of wetland sizes, the influence from terrestrial environment. Wetland Sugok showed most rich insect fauna, and 10 orders, 76 families 224 species and 1082 individuals were identified. The species diversity was 2.05 and the species richness was 73.49. Wetland Ddun showed poor insect fauna, and 6 orders, 23 families, 29 species and 81 individuals were identified. Total collected fish were 4 orders, 7 families and 11 species. The fish fauna was most rich in wetlands Oksu and Pyungy, but poor in wetland Unan. Total collected amphibians were 2 orders, 3 families and 4 species.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.222-234
• /
• 2019

Fish community characteristics and habitat aspects of endangered species, Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa and Acheilognathus signifer were investigated in the Hwayangcheon Stream of Songnisan National Park, a tributary of the Hangang River, Korea from April to October 2018. During this period, there were 29 species of 8 families collected from 11 survey stations using kick nets, cast nets long bag set nets. The dominant and subdominant species were Zacco koreanus (38.81%) and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (16.64%), respectively. The next most abundant species were Z. platypus (14.28%), Pungtungia herzi (6.92%), Hemibarbus longirostris (4.52%), Pseudogobio esocinus (3.51%), A. signifer (2.31%) and P. tenuicorpa (1.90%). Among the fish collected, 18 species (62.1%) were Korean endemic species. Endangered species were A. signifer, P. tenuicorpa and Gobiobotia brevibarba. From upstream to downstream, the dominance index has gradually decreased, but number of species and individuals, diversity and evenness has gradually increased. Also, river health (index of biological integrity) is assessed as good (St. 1~8) and very good (St. 9~11). Fish communities were divided into four sections by the similarity index based on species and their numbers, i.e., upper section (St. 1~2, 4~5), upper-middle section (St. 3, 6), middle section (St. 7~9) and lower section (St. 10~11). Endangered species, Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa inhabited in mostly lower section (St. 10~11) with rock and boulder bottoms, and age groups in April estimated from total length indicated that the 44~61 mm group is 1 year old, the 66~81 mm group is 2 years old, the 88~99 mm group is 3 years old, and the 104~107 mm group is more than 4 years old. Also, endangered species, A. signifer inhabited in middle-lower section (St. 7~11) with boulder and cobble bottoms and slow velocity, which the place inhabited by water plants. Meanwhile, their age structure in April estimated from total length indicated that the 30~43 mm group is 1 year old, the 48~58 mm group is 2 years old, the 62~77 mm group is 3 years old, and the 84~100 mm group is more than 4 years old. The sex ratio of female (47) to male (42) was 1 : 0.89.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.1040-1046
• /
• 2010

This research is composed of a series of survey of existing plants species by classifying biotope type of agro-ecosystem of Guksoo village area of Yangpyeong County, to collect and analyze basic data of vegetation analysis for indicators development of agro-ecosystem habitat quality. From the observation area, we found total 141 kinds of tracheophytes (53 Family 114 Genus 124 Species 16 Variety 1 Breed) and they are 3.36% of total Korean tracheophytes (4,191 kinds). Among those 141 tracheophytes, there are 23 kinds of naturalized plants (11 Family 20 Genus 20 Species 2 Variety) and they are 8.61% of total Korean naturalized plants (267 kinds). Among those 141 tracheophytes, they include 0.71% of pteridophyte, 0.71% of gymnosperm, 98.58% of angiosperm. So, most of them are angiosperm. When we classify them according to plant life form characteristics, dormant/diapause type plants include 45 species (31.91%) of annual plant (Th), 19 species (13.48%) of Th (w), 17species (12.06%) of hemicryptophyte (H). Regarding propagation type, as for the Radicoid form, there are 99 species (70.21%) of crumb structure plant, 13 species (9.22%) of $R_4$, 12 species (8.51%) of $R_{2.3}$ are the crumb structure does not make any connection on the ground or under ground. As for the Disseminule form of propagation type, there are 62 species (43.97%) of Gravity dispersal type $D_4$), 23 species (16.31%) of Wind dispersal type ($D_1$), 21 species (14.89%) of $D_{1.4}$. According to this survey of plant distribution rate by plant life form characteristics, we may acquire many knowledge about species composition of sociability, cluster's reaction against environmental elements, space usage and possible species competition in community. It may be very useful basic data for habitat preservation to keep and promote biological diversity.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.106-114
• /
• 2021

This study was conducted to provide basic data for the systematic management and preservation of Nak-nam Jeongmaek. Of the Nak-nam Jeongmaek, six priority research areas, Gilmajae, Mt. Cheonwang, Mt. Yeohang, Mt. Muhak, Mt. Cheonju, Mt. Sineo, with consideration to terrain and environmental characteristics, were selected for this study. Two fixed plots for each bird habitat type were selected for each site and were surveyed from May to October in 2018. The survey conducted in the six priority research areas of Nak-nam Jeongmaek identified 48 species with 1,181 individual birds. The largest number of species and individuals occupying a particular habitat type were found in the developed land with 35 species and 567 individuals. Species diversity was the highest at 2.66 in the forest road. According to the results of nesting guild analysis of Nak-nam Jeongmaek (Pearson Chi-square test, 𝛘²=16.681, p<0.05) by each habitat type, the communities that belong to the canopy nesting guild showed a high frequency in the developed land, the valley, and the forest road. The results of the Pearson Chi-Square test (𝛘²=16.217, p<0.005) showed that the communities that belonged to the bush foraging guild were the most frequent in the developed land, and the communities that belonged to the canopy foraging guild were the most frequent in the valley and the forest road. The results of these studies suggest that the various habitats of the Nak-nam Jeongmaek provide a variety of resources for bird habitats.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.266-279
• /
• 2019

We investigated the characteristics of fish communities and habitat status of endangered species Rhodeus pseudosericeus in Heuk Stream, a tributary of the Han River, from April to October 2018. During this period, we collected 47 species of 14 families from 10 survey stations using kick nets, cast nets, and long bag set nets. The dominant and subdominant species were Zacco platypus (37.6%) and Z. koreanus (13.8%), respectively. The next most abundant species were Squalidus gracilis majimae (11.1%), Pungtungia herzi (7.7%), Rhodeus pseudosericeus (5.0%), Microphysogobio yaluensis (4.3%), and Hemibarbus longirostris (3.0%). Among the fish collected, 19 species (40.4%) were Korean endemic species. Endangered species were R. pseudosericeus and Acheilognathus signifer while exotic species were Micropterus salmoides and Oncorhynchus mykiss, and land-locked species were Plecoglossus altivelis and Rhinogobius brunneus. The community analysis showed that the dominance and evenness indexes were mostly low and that the diversity and richness indexes were high. Moreover, the river health (index of biological integrity) was mostly excllent (1 site is good, 9 sites are very good). R. pseudosericeus inhabited widely from St. 3 to St. 9 in Heuk Stream, and its population size was large. Age groups for R. pseudosericeus estimated by the frequency distribution of total length in spawning season (April) indicated the 32~45 mm group as 1-year old, the 46~59 mm group as 2-years old, 60~69 mm group as 3-years old, and the 70~89 mm group as 4-years or older. Total length range of male and female was similar, and the sex ratio of female (426) to male (394) was 1 : 0.95. A. signifer, which had been released in Heuk Stream, inhabited from St. 4 to St. 5, but its population size was small. Lastly, this paper discusses a conservation plan for fish in Heuk Stream.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.601-609
• /
• 2020

This study aims to draw suggestions for establishing the Post-2020 national policy direction and goals related to protected areas in Korea by analyzing the trends of major discussion issues on protected areas in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and reviewing the achievement progress of the Aichi target-11. Regarding the CBD decisions on protected areas, two decisions (Decisions II/7 and II/8) were adopted in 1995, and then the Program of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA), which presented an ideal blueprint for protected areas, was adopted at the 7th Conference of the Parties (COP) in 2004. At the 10th COP in 2010, the "Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Target" (Decision X/2) was adopted along with the Decision X/31, which presented ten key issues related to protected areas. The global outcomes of the Aichi Target-11 include 15% of the earth's land area and 7.4% of the ocean being designated as protected areas. In Korea, 16.63% of the land and 2.12% of the ocean have been designated as protected areas. However, the outcomes of the effective and equitable management, protection of areas important to biodiversity and ecosystem services, and identifying "Other effective area-based conservation measures" (OECMs) and linking them with protected areas have been found to be significantly short of global goals. The first draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (Post-2020 GBF) prepared in January 2020 presented multi-step objectives. They included protecting at least 60% of particularly important sites for biodiversity through protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, at least 30% of the entire land and sea areas, and at least 10% of them under strict protection by 2030. The Updated Zero drafted in August 2020 concisely set out one quantitative goal of at least 30% of the globe by 2030, adding qualitative goals that these areas should be protected and conserved through "well connected and effective system of protected areas and OECMs at least 30 % of the planet with the focus on areas particularly important for biodiversity." Based on the draft Post-2020 GBF's targets related to protected areas and Korea's national targets reflecting the current state of Korea and established national plans, we suggest the national targets "to protect and conserve at least 30% of the land area and 10% of the marine area and to strengthen the means of qualitative achievement by establishing sub-targets through an effective system of protected areas and OECMs by 2030.".

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.11-28
• /
• 2021

Due to its size and complex characteristics, it is not often to newly create a large park within an existing urban area. Also, there has been a lack of research on the planting design methodologies for a large park. This study aims to elucidate how ecological ideas can be applied to planting practice from a designer's perspective, and eventually suggest a planting design framework in the actual case, the Central Park in the City of Gwangju. This framework consists of spatial structure of planting area in order to connect and unite the separated green patches, to adapt to the changes of existing vegetation patterns, to maintain the visual continuity of landscape, and to organize the whole open space system. The framework can be provided for the spatial planning and planting design phase in which the landscape designer flexibly uses it with the design intentions as well as with an understanding of the physical, social, and aesthetic characteristics of the site. The significance of this approach is, first that it can maintain ecological and visual consistency of the both existing and introduced landscapes as a whole in spite of its intrinsic complexity and largeness, and second that it can help efficiently respond to the unexpected changes in the landscape. In the case study, comprehensive site analysis is conducted before developing the framework. In particular, wetlands and grasslands have been identified as potential wildlife habitat which critically determines the vegetation patterns of the green area. Accordingly, the lists of plant communities are presented along with the planting scheme for their shape, layout, and relations. The model of the plant community is developed responding to the structure of surrounding natural landscape. However, it is not designed to evolve to a specific plant community, but is rather a conceptual model of ecological potentials. Therefore, the application of the model has great flexibility by using other plant communities as an alternative as long as the characteristics of the communities are appropriate to the physical conditions. Even though this research provides valuable implications for landscape planning and design in the similar circumstances, there are several limitations to be overcome in the further research. First, there needs to be more sufficient field surveys on the wildlife habitats, which would help generate a more concrete planting model. Second, a landscape management plan should be included considering the condition of existing forest, in particular the afforested landscapes. Last, there is a lack of quantitative data for the models of some plant communities.